Citibank offers a variety of credit cards that come with lucrative new cardmember bonus offers. These bonuses can be an easy way to earn a large amount of rewards points or cash back when you first open a new Citibank credit card. However, each Citibank card has different eligibility requirements to earn the welcome bonus.
Citibank ThankYou Preferred Card
The Citibank ThankYou Preferred Card offers new cardmembers 30,000 ThankYou Points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Here are the key details about this bonus offer:
- Bonus Offer: Earn 30,000 ThankYou Points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
- Spending Requirement: You must spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening to earn the full bonus.
- Bonus Value: 30,000 ThankYou Points are worth around $450 in travel booked through the Citi ThankYou travel portal.
The spending requirement of $3,000 within 3 months is very reasonable for most applicants to obtain. Putting your regular monthly spending on the card can help meet this spending target. The bonus value of $450 is also a great return given the moderate spending requirement.
Citibank Premier Card
The Citibank Premier Card provides an opportunity to earn 50,000 ThankYou Points after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months of account opening. Here is an overview of this offer:
- Bonus Offer: Earn 50,000 ThankYou Points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
- Spending Requirement: You must spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months to qualify for the full bonus.
- Bonus Value: 50,000 ThankYou Points are worth around $750 towards travel booked through the Citi travel portal.
While the spending requirement is slightly higher at $4,000 within 3 months, the bonus value is also increased to $750. This provides a great return for a moderate amount of spending on the card. Putting your household expenses on the card can help reach the $4,000 minimum spend.
Citibank Prestige Card
The premium Citibank Prestige Card offers new applicants the chance to earn 50,000 ThankYou Points after spending $5,000 within the first 3 months of account opening. Here are the details on earning this bonus:
- Bonus Offer: Earn 50,000 ThankYou Points after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
- Spending Requirement: You must spend $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months to earn the full bonus.
- Bonus Value: 50,000 ThankYou Points are worth around $750 towards airfare booked through the Citi travel portal.
The $5,000 minimum spending requirement is higher than the other Citi cards. But the 50,000 point bonus still provides strong value of $750. Putting travel and household expenses on the card can help you reach the required amount.
Citibank Custom Cash Card
The no annual fee Citibank Custom Cash Card offers new cardmembers $200 cash back after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Here are the details on this bonus:
- Bonus Offer: Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
- Spending Requirement: You must spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months to qualify for the bonus.
- Bonus Value: $200 cash back earned after meeting the spending requirement.
With just a $1,000 spending requirement, this is one of the easiest bonuses to earn from Citibank. Putting your monthly bills and other routine spending on the card can help you earn the $200 cash back. This provides a strong 20% return on your spending.
Citibank Double Cash Card
The Citibank Double Cash Card provides new cardholders with $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases within the first 6 months of account opening. Here is an overview of this offer:
- Bonus Offer: Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases within the first 6 months of account opening.
- Spending Requirement: You must spend $1,500 on purchases within the first 6 months to qualify for the bonus cash back.
- Bonus Value: $200 cash back.
With 6 months to meet the $1,500 spending requirement, this is one of the most flexible Citibank bonus offers. Putting your household spending on the card over several months can help you earn the extra $200 cash back.
Key Tips for Earning the Bonus
Here are some key tips to keep in mind when trying to earn a Citibank new cardmember bonus:
- Put your regular monthly spending on the card like groceries, gas, dining out, etc. This routine spending helps contribute towards the minimum spend requirement.
- Pay your bills with the new card including utilities, internet, streaming services, insurance, etc. These recurring expenses count towards the bonus.
- Consider making larger purchases like furniture or appliances with the card. The purchase amount helps increase your spending total.
- Don’t overspend just to get the bonus. Only make purchases you can comfortably afford.
- Monitor your spending progress each month to ensure you reach the minimum requirement within the allotted time period.
Using the card strategically and consistently for your daily purchases gives you the best chance of earning the new member bonus offer.
Do You Lose the Bonus if You Close the Card?
An important question to consider is whether you lose the new cardmember bonus if you close the credit card. Here is what you need to know:
- You will not lose the bonus if you close the credit card after initially earning the bonus. For example, if you earn 50,000 ThankYou Points as a new cardmember bonus, those bonus points are yours to keep forever.
- Even if you close the credit card in the future, the bank cannot take back the bonus you already earned as a new cardholder.
- You would, however, lose out on the ongoing point or cash back earning potential of the card by closing it.
- As long as you earn the bonus initially, you can close the card with no penalty. The bonus points or cash back are yours to keep once earned.
In summary, you can safely close a Citibank credit card after earning the welcome bonus without risk of losing the initial bonus you earned as a new cardholder.
How Does the Bonus Get Credited to Your Account?
Here is a look at how Citibank provides the new cardmember bonus once you meet the spending requirement:
- ThankYou Points bonuses will be added to your Citi ThankYou account associated with the card within 1-2 billing cycles after you meet the minimum spend.
- Cash back bonuses will be applied as a statement credit to your account within 1-2 billing cycles after you reach the spending threshold.
- Citibank will send you an email confirmation when the bonus points or cash back have been added to your account.
- You can log in to your Citi online account to check your ThankYou Points or cash back balance and see the bonus added.
In most cases, you can expect to see the new cardmember bonus appear within 8 weeks after you reach the spending requirement. Monitor your account to check for the bonus once you meet the minimum spend.
How Valuable Are the Bonus Offers?
The new cardmember bonuses offered by Citibank cards provide very strong value and returns on spending. Here is an overview of some of the top offers:
Card | Bonus Offer | Spend Requirement | Bonus Value | Return on Spending |
---|---|---|---|---|
Citibank Premier Card | 50,000 ThankYou Points | $4,000 | $750 | 18.75% |
Citibank Custom Cash Card | $200 Cash Back | $1,000 | $200 | 20% |
Citibank Double Cash Card | $200 Cash Back | $1,500 | $200 | 13.33% |
As you can see from the table, the return on spending ranges from 13% to 20% across some of the top Citibank card bonuses. This provides tremendous value, especially considering you can earn this return on your normal household expenses.
Benefits of the Bonuses
Here are some of the key benefits that the new cardmember bonuses offer:
- Lucrative rewards value – The bonuses provide a high rewards value ranging from $200 to $750 based on your spending ability.
- Strong returns – You can earn an outstanding 13% to 20% back in rewards on your spending with these offers.
- Valuable points and cash back – The ThankYou Points and cash back earned are very valuable and flexible.
- Attainable spending requirements – The spending minimums are reasonable for most households and spending budgets.
Overall, the Citibank new cardmember bonuses provide exciting rewards value and lucrative returns on your spending. The offers are very competitive compared to other credit card bonus opportunities.
Conclusion
The Citibank new cardmember bonuses offer exciting opportunities to earn rewards points and cash back. You can earn between 30,000 – 50,000 ThankYou Points or $200 cash back by meeting reasonable spending requirements. Put your everyday household expenses on the card strategically to meet the minimum spend. Then enjoy your highly valuable bonus and strong return on spending ranging from 13% to 20%. Citibank credit card bonuses provide an easy way to maximize value as a new cardholder.